In the papers

Not sure if you saw TalkSPORT's Stan Collymore's recent Twitter rant on the state of BBC's Match of the Day. I personally have thought it's been stale for years. If you missed it here it is:
Collymore MOTD rant

Road to Wembley - 10 things you never knew about Buxton FC

1. Buxton are one of the countries oldest clubs, formed in 1877.
2. Buxton play at The Silverlands and holds 2,000 fans.
3. The Silverlands in the easily the highest football stadium in England and Wales at an altitude of over 1,000 feet.
4. The Bucks reached the FA Cup 3rd Round in the 1951/2 season losing to Aldershot.
5. Famous ex-Bucks players include Ian Greaves (played for Man U, managed Bolton) and Tony Parkes (serial Blackburn caretaker manager).
6. They have won the Derbyshire Senior Cup 9 times.
7. This season's biggest home crowd so far is 359.
8. Buxton's colours are all blue.
9. Team manager is John Reed, who succeeded Nicky Law (ex Grimsby and Bradford manager). Reed is popular and had an excellent non-league career with Denaby, Hatfield, Bridlington Town and Goole.
10. And this is the best one.... N&R FL manager Greg Foulger lived in Buxton since he was a wee nipper (he currently resides in Mexico City) and both his Mum & Dad are Buxton season ticket holders. Mr Foulger Sr is very excited that we have adopted his local team on the Road to Wembley. Good stuff.

Week 5 review

Arsenal kept up their typically fine start to the season with a 4-1 stuffing of Bolton at The Emirates, two injury time goals gave the Toffees something to smile about in a so far dismal season as they held United 3-3 at Goodison.

Fulham also got a late winner at home to dirty Wolves, who had 6 booked and Berra sent off. In Lancashire Citeh and Blackburn drew 1-1, a result that has sure to get Big Sam a job in Milan or Madrid.

DJ Campbell got Blackpool's 2nd in an impressive 2-0 win at Newcastle, WBA and Spurs shared the spoils at the Hawthorns and Chelsea had another routine victory, this time at West Ham, while Gyan scored his first goal for Sunderland in their 1-1 draw at Wigan.

On the Sunday Liverpool held on for a point at Birmingham and on Monday Stoke beat Villa with two late goals from Huth and Jones.

Photograph of the week

A game between Man U v Liverpool used to mean something. Not so much anymore. I mean even Dimitar Berbatov broke a sweat and scored three, one a corker. Nice shirt to Dimi.

Right old knees up

This morning I had surgery to reconstruct my anterior cruciate ligament in my right knee, torn whilst playing indoor football earlier in the year.

Mistakenly the nurses appear to think I am some kind of sportsman. Those that know me will not read the rest of this post because they will be on the floor wetting themselves.

I should also refer the polite nurses to my physio who when discovering the extent of my injury asked me if I warmed up before playing football.

"Does the 5 minute walk to the indoor gym count?" I asked. Well not really she replied. "What about warming down?" she said.

"Well I walk back."

Fortunately for me this is my first ever surgery despite being in my 40's. Previously the closest I've ever come to understanding operations, was that funny little board game with the tweezers!

Sadly despite years of paying or contributing to private healthcare both in the UK and the US, I had to have my first ever operation in the King Edward Memorial Hospital in Bermuda. Imagine Lewisham Hospital after the war.

And it does seem that in the two years I have lived here I've spent more time in this place than any other hospital in my life. We do have an option to have operations off island but this particular surgeon was recommended by well over 10 people and he did fill me with a lot of confidence, unlike the admitting nurse this morning who spent five minutes telling me that she'd had the same procedure but now her shoulder was fully recovered. I grabbed the black felt tip pen out of her hand and drew a huge circle on my right knee.

Week 4 scores

There will be no Week 4 scores due to the International break. Week 5's scores (the past weekend) will be out very shortly.

My kinda town

Sorry for the lateness of the season's fantasy scores so far. I have been doing a lot of travelling and had very little time in front of a computer these last few weeks.

This past weekend I was in Chicago and had a wonderful, if hectic 4 days visiting old friends and old memories. I also managed to catch up with Messrs Feldbruegge and Malloy to present them their winnings from last season on Thursday night.

Sadly I missed Paul and Davor but Michael Stout did join us as did others (including my 10-month old) in The Bar (imagine the New Moon with napkins) as we downed drinks before heading to the Purple Pig, a restaurant with the tagline Cheese, Swine & Wine.

This time of year in Chicago is my favourite time. The weather was beautiful and the city was as dramatic as always. I'll be back soon.

Bigg it up

Week 3 - Manager of the Week

The first new manager to win a fiver for the Manager of the Week is Alastair Bigg, who knocked in 55 points in week 3. Congratulations Alastair.

In 2nd place was Mark Gregory who hit a half century, Mark Simmons 49 and early title challenger Rob Munden got 48.

Next up was Paul and Christian Long with 46 and Mark Dewberry 42.

Other managers worth a shout out in week 3 were Jason Syrett and Richard Nathan with 39, Danny Rose 38, Peter Doyle 37, Greg Foulger 36 and Chris Waterman, Andrew Cassell and Neil Reynolds each scoring 35.

Week 3's lowest score was owned surprisingly by Kirsty Baillie with 11.

Soozie still cooking

N&R FL Division 1 - Week 3
Soozie Sizzlers remain top of Div 1 but her lead is just 2 points and Rob's To Elland Back fly into 2nd place. In 3rd remains Godders with Brox Banditos still in 4th.

Keep the faith climb to the dizzzy 5th and Hip Hop Hooray stay 6th. Below Ian and Ryan are
Loads of Roubles and Boys on Tour.

Just outside the top 7 are Jimmy 5 Bellies, Paris Eagles and big climbers Racing Hiccups and Arsene Knows.

The bottom 10 includes such luminaries as Hannoi Utd, Glasgow Kiss, Tanus Terriers and 2 Infinity & Beyond but stuck to last place still are Razor's Red Roy's Rovers 17 points adrift of Torres Rosso.

Croat still coasting

N&R FL Division 2 - Week 3
Calculated Risk stay on top of the league table after a steady if not spectacular Week 3. Davor is 4 pts clear of Californication and 7 ahead of 3rd placed FFC 4Ever.

In 4th are Good on paper XI up from 8th with Bingo FC still in 5th and Blunty in 6th.

New in the top 10 are MoW Chart This Int'l who climb 10 places, Brighton Blues continue their rise from the bottom and are now in 11th.

At the bottom Young Gingers move away from the lower reaches after a good week as does Mad Rick, but it is still looking bad for Hammer Nation and FC Wood now sit in 2nd to last place.

Theo is king slip to 27th, just above Megan & Hannah's Teddy Bears and The No-Hopers.

Photograph of the week

Former Liverpool and Lyon boss Gerard Houllier has been appointed the new manager of Aston Villa. Houllier has not been in club management since leaving Lyon in 2007.

Week 3 review

Theo Walcott scored again as Arsenal beat Rovers 2-1 at Ewood. Etuhu scored a late equaliser for Fulham at Blackpool to spoil a deserved 3 points for the Tangerines.

Goals from Malouda and Drogba gave Chelsea a straightforward win at home to Stoke, likewise for Rooney, Nani, Berbatov for Man U at home to the point-less Hammers. wolves and Newcastle battled out a 1-1 draw whilst the previously shit Wigan sprung the surprise of the weekend beating Spurs at The Lane 1-0.

On the Sunday Luke Young scored early and that was enough for the 3 pts against Everton, Bolton and Birmingham drew 2-2 in an entertaining game at The Reebok. Fernando Torres gave Liverpool their first victory with a 1-0 win over WBA and Darren Bent, Bent, Bent scored a late, late penalty to help the Mackems beat the Billionaires.

Road to Wembley - Buxton spring into the next round

Bottesford Town's run in the FA Cup finally came to an end on saturday when they lost to Buxton 3-0.

Scunthorpe based Bottesford were unbeaten up until this weekend when they come up against a decent Buxton side, who play 3 levels higher in the English pyramid system.

Buxton made their intent known from the start and, with the home defence appearing not to have settled from the opening onslaught, Buxton took the lead after six minutes.

Hewitt failed to clear his lines, allowing STEVE RIDLEY to bundle the ball over the line.
The home side then enjoyed a good spell, before Buxton hit back, making it 2-0 with a tap-in from KIERAN LIGSDEN.

The Poachers worked hard to stay in the game, changing their line-up in the second half and enjoyed the better of the play for a period. Mark Pembleton was denied by the woodwork and later Mark Anderson then got a strike on goal, but from the clearance, Mark Reed headed the ball down to the feet of LIGSDEN to score a simple goal in the 71st minute.

Bottesford were reduced to 10 men late on, but continued to press, without any end product.

Attendance: 135

In the Preliminary Round previous Bottesford Town scraped through against Barrow Town with a last minute free kick to win the game 2-1.

So Derbyshire based Buxton, famous for it's spring water, are our new N&R Road to Wembley team and they will play Brackley Town in the 2nd Qualifying Round on September 25th. More on The Bucks soon.

How much do shirt sponsors pay Premier League clubs

In the papers

A regular look at articles that catch my eye in the newspapers. This week the Daily Mail's Martin Samuel on why Russia should not even be considered to host the 2018 World Cup.

"(England's bid is) Unbeatable in the fact that, unlike Russia, its domestic aeroplanes do not have a nasty habit of falling out of the sky and its capital city is not logged as the most expensive in Europe. Unbeatable because, unlike in Russia, it is possible for a black man to play for an English football club without exotic fruit bouncing off his head."

Read the full article here.

Photograph of the week

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz was been suspended for six months this week after it was ruled that he disrupted an anti-doping test ahead of the World Cup. The country's Sports Institute said an inquiry found that Queiroz insulted an anti-doping team and that his aggressive manner upset their work. Queiroz's assistant, Agostinho Oliveira, has been placed in charge of the national team.

Soozie grabs the fiver

Week 2 - Manager of the Week
Soozie sizzled to the 2nd MoW prize with 72 points setting the bar high early in the season. Davor grabbed 68 and Chris Waterman 66 as they chased her to the finish line. James Ashworth scored a credible 65 with Steve Merchant 61.

With scores above 50 Danny Rose, Chris Wright, Barry Paull, Mark Gregory, Rob Munden, Mark Wenman, Henry Williams, Neil Wallis, Ryan Saveall, Simon Ward and Greg Foulger who each deserve a pat on the back.

Meanwhile with just 6 Richard Nathan gets a kick up the jacksy.

Soozie making the most of single life

N&R FL Division 1 - Week 2
Soozie is enjoying her last few weeks of freedom in the N&R FL before she gets married to fellow N&R FL manager Ryan Saveall. Week 2 saw Soozie's Sizzlers storm to the top of the Div 1 table. Ryan's Hip Hip Hooray! have also started well and are in 6th place along side Keep the faith. Let's be honest though Ian.... it won't last.

In 2nd is Jimmy 5 Bellies, three points ahead of the season's early leader Godders. Brox Banditos are 4th with To Elland Back 5th.

Behind the top 7 are a host of would-be managers with title aspirations. Barry's Paris Eagles, John's Loads of Roubles, Steve in Atlanta's Guinness & eggs, Greg's Boys on Tour from the heart of Mexico City, Henry's Aston Globetrotters and the lovely Kirsty's Glasgow Kiss.

At the bottom already looking in grave danger of relegation are Richard's Red Roy's Rovers. They are 22 pts behind Torres Rosso and 31 behind Rhubard & Custard.

Risky business

N&R FL Division 2 - Week 2
Early leaders Suffolk n good dropped to 9th in and Stocky's Starlets to 5th in week 2 as the Croat giant Davor, fresh back from his trip to the motherland hit top spot with a 68 point week leaving Calculated Risk 6 points ahead of Californication in 2nd.

In 3rd are FFC 4Ever with Bobby Z is World Class, Blunty 11 and Feldbruegge & Malloy's yet to be named team in joint 6th. Mark Gregory's Good on paper XI are in 10th.

At the very bottom of the pile is New Yorker Tony Murray with his Hammer Nation already 20 points adrift. Fellow ex-pat the No Hopers are 2nd from bottom with Pure Irish and Young Gingers just above them.

Week 2 review

Arsenal gave Blackpool a proper Premier League welcome by roasting the Tangerines 6-0. Walcott got a hat-trick. Chelsea won by the same number at Wigan. Malouda, Anelka and Kalou each getting two. Wigan's start to the season was the worst in Premier League history.

Newcastle joined the six-club stuffing Villa at St James'. Andy Carroll got three, and Tevez got two as Man C beat Liverpool convincingly 3-0.

Birmingham beat Blackburn 2-1 whilst Spurs won by the same scoreline at Stoke. Ebanks-Blake got an underserved equaliser for Wolves at Goodison, Bolton went to town in the east end beating West Ham 3-1 and Odemwingie scored a debut goal for WBA at home to Sunderland.

Brave Fulham twice fought back to draw with Man U at Craven Cottage. Hangeland scoring in both ends.